in toronto
as in any city
weird things can stop you up short
so on saturday morning i saw this
this was quite a surprise
why would anyone take off these "shoes"?
leave them on the edge
of walk and ride?
leave them on the edge
of walk and ride?
nearby
a black squirrel was
having a ridiculously delightful time
doing flips
questioning MY motives
and then:
there's the japanese paper place.
sigh!
77 brock
were the workshop was held.
sigh!
77 brock
were the workshop was held.
(tim's exemplar)
working with master alchemist,
binder,
wonderer,
maker,
timothy ely.
i love these marks,
loved how he taught,
his use of language and respect for story,
felt challenged and heard.
the class was filled with very
very talented artists…
i learned more about a passel of concepts
which seem to be
knocking at my brain:
"pay attention, knock knock"!
so then the ride home was
an adventure
i just love union station
as messed up as it is
(just try to find your way
after a blue jay's game and a
city wide parade)
home, in my kitchen i found this
rock books
a drain strainer
empty jars
ink
so my sketchbook
taken out and examined
a few days later
after i'd gotten over the mistakes,
i had to forgive myself for those,
there are many.
but this little inlay is
a bit of paper decorated by tim
(it has sparkles in it)
and i played with paste and color
still unfinished, but i will slice the last
of the pages apart, paste up the corners,
endsheets,
and start using this thing.
the book WORKS so well,
it's a mechanical device for memory.
it opens flat and deliciously.
there are spare
marks and bits for me to
connect the day's notes drawings ideas paste-ins.
thank you tim.
amazing diving board for me.
and i like to swim.
a few days later
after i'd gotten over the mistakes,
i had to forgive myself for those,
but this little inlay is
a bit of paper decorated by tim
(it has sparkles in it)
of the pages apart, paste up the corners,
endsheets,
and start using this thing.
the book WORKS so well,
it's a mechanical device for memory.
it opens flat and deliciously.
there are spare
marks and bits for me to
connect the day's notes drawings ideas paste-ins.
thank you tim.
amazing diving board for me.
and i like to swim.
oh oh oh! now i wish i was in class with you rather than moving. can't wait for you to take the lead when we teach this summer.
ReplyDeleteLucky, lucky you and what a beautiful book.
ReplyDeleteFlipping squirrel, they do have fun. A red one ran like lightening under the bench I was sitting on the other day... love the book!!
ReplyDeleteaimee, me, too. but clarissa was there, you need to meet her! and cheryl of the many books!
ReplyDeletealice, it was a great class, the book, a learning one.
valerie, just learning, this black squirrel (a genetic variation on grey, i'm told) was a HOOT!
drooling... really (solidly salivating)
ReplyDeleteWonderful journey - you took us on Velma thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteLucky, lucky you, Velma! Tim Ely, such a wonder. I spent a week studying with him many years ago. Life changing.
ReplyDeleteronnie, just don't drool on the keys…tim is just wonderful
ReplyDeletewyn, thanks fo going along.
gwen, a week would have been wonderful. maybe i will do that someday.its dectob
Beautiful book. Beautiful marks.
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese Paper Place is at the top of my list of places to go when I get back to Toronto this Summer for a visit. Used to live just a short streetcar ride down Queen St. from it. I still have a few of their papers which I've been rationing for the past six years, not knowing when I'd have the chance to get back there...
lynn, i can understand your rationing, have a very fine time there.
ReplyDeletelooks like creative thoughts will swim easily in this book.
ReplyDeletesusan, that's the hope! once i finish off the last details and can use it.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your adventure. And seeing your sketchbook. Thanks for writing about forgiving the mistakes, too. I have a really hard time with that.
ReplyDeletegenevieve, i'm really not a perfectionist, BUT i almost threw the book in the recylcle bin, until i heard tim's voice in my head questioning me...
ReplyDeleteI'd welcome that voice in my head. :)
ReplyDeleteg-you would love working with him. he's a gem.
ReplyDelete